Filling apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

W. E. S. STRONG.

FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1901.

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No. 792,857. v PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. W. E. S. STRONG.

FILLING APPARATUS. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 25, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WM f By my NITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM E. S. STRONG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINKLEY COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TlON OF CONNECTICUT.

FILLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,857', dated June 20, 1905.

Application led September 25,1901. Serial No. 76,486.

Be it known that I, WILLTAM E. S. STRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means :for iilling vessels of Various kinds with liquid from a barrel or tank or other source of supply, the object of the invention being to provide improved means for filling such vessels expeditiously without allowing' them to overflow and without otherwise wasting the liquid, also to provide means for returning the drippings to the barrel or receptacle.

A. further object of the invention is to provide efiicient and convenient means for pumping the liquid from a barrel or tank and to adapt the pumping devices t0 different depths, so that it may be readily applied to barrels or tanks which diifer in depth to a considerable extent.

This invention is herein illustrated as being embodied in a device for filling oil-cans, being shown as applied to an ordinary barrel.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation in section taken through the longitudinal center of the apparatus and of the barrel to which it is applied. Only a small portion of the barrel is herein shown, enough to enable the method of attachment and relation of this apparatus thereto to be understood. is a plan View of the apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view in section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary views in section, taken on the line 4 6 of Fig. 1, showing the different positions of the three-way valve.

The principal frame for supporting the parts of this apparatus consists of a gooseneck column 8, having' a flanged base 9, which may be sufliciently Wide to insure a proper stability of the apparatus when mounted upon a barrel or tank, or it may be attached thereto by means of screws 11. The bottom of the base is preferably provided with a boss 12 Fig. 2

for extending into the bung-hole of the barrel to centralize the apparatus therewith and to conduct the drip below the surface of the barrel-head. The column is adapted to receive an extensible tubular connection for the pump, also to receive an overflow-tube, both of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The body of the column is provided with vertical ways 14 for receiving the vertical sliding bracket 15, the latter, as best shown in Fig. 3, being clamped together upon opposite sides of the ways by means ofV the thumb-screw 16, so as to Iix the bracket at any desired height. Upon the bracket 15 is mounted a platen 18, which is mounted for vertical movement upon the bracket, being raised and lowered by means of the lever 19, pivotally mounted upon the bushing 20, and being retained in position by means of the head of the thumb-screw 16, while permitting the lever to turn freely upon the stud.

In order to enable the oil that may drip upon the platen to be conducted back to the barrel or tank, the stem 21 of the platen is made hollow, the upper surface of the platen being slightly concave, so that the drip will iiow toward and through the hollow stem and into the conductor 22, which extends outwardly from the base. The edges of this conductor are turned upwardly and the bottom is inclinedas shown in Fig. 1, toward its outlet 23, through which the drip finds its way back into the barrel or tank.

The pump-barrel 26 is connected with the lower end of the column 8 by means of the tubular sleeve 27, one end of which is threaded into the top of the barrel, while the other is threaded into the base of the column. The lower end of the pump-barrel is provided with a check-valve, which is preferably a ball 28. The plunger 8O of the pump, which may be of any approved construction, is herein shown to be provided with a cupped packing 31 and with a lifting-valve 32. The stem 33 of this plunger is provided on one side with a longitudinal slot or opening into which a screw or key 35 extends, which prevents the plunger from turning, while permitting of its longitudinal movement. The upper end of the stem 33 is threaded to receive the extension-rod 36 of the pump, which extends upwardly through the sleeve 27 inside of the column 8 and passes out at the upper end of the column through a stuffing-box formed by the gland 37 and is provided at its upper end with a suitable handle 38. By the operations of the pump the oil is forced upwardly through the sleeve 27 into the cavity 39 of the hollow column 8, which is curved or gooscnecked forward,as shown in Fig. 1, terminating in a hub 42, in which is seated the combined three-way cock and valveplug 43. The passage 45 of the column conducts the oil from the cavity 39 to the cornbined filling nozzle and valve, which is provided with two independent passages 44 and 46, the first of which when the valve is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 leads downwardly into the oil-can 48, while the other passage 46 communicates when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 6 with a projecting' spout 50 at the front side of the hub 42, which may be employed for filling larger cans or in connection with a flexible tube may be utilized for forcing' the oil to some other tank or receiver or receptacle. Thus by turning the Valve to the positions shown in Figs. 4 or 6 the supply of oil may be forced by the pump either into the can 48 or through the spout 50, and by turning the valve to the position shown in Fig. 5 the passage-way 45 is closed entirely, so as to prevent the flow of oil therefrom. The valve is preferably seated in a conical or tapering bore of the hub 42 in the usual way and is prevented from being inadvertently withdrawn, while permitting it to turn freely, by means of the screw 51, which projects into a peripheral groove of the valve.

The lower end of the hub 42 is preferably provided with a packing-ringl 53, against which the mouth of the can is forced by the pressure of the lever 19 to prevent theoverflow of oil upon the ou tside of the can. As a means for conducting the overflow of the oil back into the barrel or other source of su pply the valve is provided with an annular passage 55, leading toa port 56, which extends through the side wall of the valve into coincidence with the overflow-tube 57 when thc valve is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, which is the only position in which a provision for overflow is required. A convenient way of providing the annular passage is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the vertical portion of the inlet-passage 44 is a tube 47, which is driven into its seat in the upper portion of the valve 43, the lower portion of the valve being counterbored to a size sufficiently larger than the tube to provide a suitable area for the overflow of the oil to the port 56. This port is located below the plane of the lateral passages 44, 45, and 46, and therefore does not interfere with them or communicate with them excepting by way of the lower end of the tube 47. The overfiow-tube 57 extends inside of the column and preferably in a cored recess 58 thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, passing at its lower end through the hub or boss 12 into communication with the barrel or receptacle from which the oil is withdrawn.

In order to enable the oil-cup to be filled with certainty to a definite and convenient height without any care or observation on the part of the operator, the lower ends of the valve 43 and of its tube 47 are extended below the packing-ring 53 to a point coincident with the desired level of the oil in the can below the mouth thereof, so that the annular passage 55 forms a siphon through which the oil is reduced to that level when the pump is stopped and before removing the can. This particular feature is an improvement upon the corresponding device of United States Patent No. 463,088, of November 10, 1891, in the respect that the overflow-passage is controlled by the valve and may, as herein shown, be closed thereby when the valve is turned away from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and this may be desirable in the case of highly-volatile fluids. This overflow-passage may also serve as a vent, inasmuch as the air displaced from the can will displace a corresponding amount of oil in the barrel. lf it is desired to utilize this overflow-tube as a vent when forcing oil through the spout 50, this may be accomplished by providing an additional passage 60, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) leading from the tube 47 to the overflow-tube 57 when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 6.

1n order to enable the pump-barrel and its plunger to be readily adjusted to suit different depths of barrels, tanks, or other receptacles from which the oil is to be withdrawn, the sleeve 27 is provided with a screw-thread for a distance equaling the amount of the desired extension or adjustment, that thread fitting a corresliiondingly-threaded hole in the lower end of the column, being fixed in its adjusted position by means of the check-nut 62, so that by loosening thc check-nut the sleeve 27 and its attached barrel 26 may be adjusted to the desired depth. In order to make a corresponding and simultaneous adjustment or extension of the barrel and of the connection between the pump-handle 38 and the plunger 30, so as to maintain it in proper operative relation, the extension-rod 36 is threaded into the upper end of the plunger-stem 33, employing a screw-thread which is equal in pitch to the thread of the upper end of the sleeve 27. As the pump-barrel, with its sleeve 27, is screwed up or down with relation to the column the plunger 30 and its stem 33 are carried with the barrel by means of the screw 35, so that by holding the extension-rod 36 from turning by means of its handle 38 while the barrel, with its sleeve 27, is being adjusted with relation to the column a correspond- IOO IIO

ing adjustment takes place between the eX- tension-rod and the plunger'.

The operation of this device will be understood from the preceding description and is, briefly stated, as follows: Having ascertained the depth of the barrel from which the liquid is to be withd rawn, the barrel is adjusted to a corresponding depth by loosening' the check-nut G2, holding the handle 38, and screwing the barrel up or down, as the case may be, to the desired point. The adjustment of the plunger upon its rod 36 is coextensive with that of the sleeve 27 with relation to the column, as above described, by virtue of the fact that their respective adjusting-screws are of the same pitch. Having established this adjustment of the pump-barrel, it is liXed in position by means of the cheek-nut 62, and the apparatus is then seated upon the top of the barrel or tank, as shown in Fig. l, the cup or other vessel to be lilled is placed upon the platen, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve is turned to the position shown in that ligure, and the pump is worked, by means of its handle 38, until the operator is satisfied that the cup is overflowing, which is readily ascertained by brief experience. He then ceases to operate the pump and waits a moment for the siphon to take effect, so as to reduce the level to a point which permits of the insertion of the cap, plug, or nozzle of the can. The bracket l5 should be adjusted to a height which is convenient for the cups which have to be lilled, the stroke of the lever 19 and its platen 18 being suilicient to allow for a considerable variation in the heights of the cups.

Thiscombined lilling attachment and pump is a compact and substantial adjunct for stores, factories, and general use and is adapted to withstand the severe usage to which such appliances are frequently subjected. 'Ihe working parts, pipes, Sac., which in analogous devices are usually exposed to a greater or less extent, are herein protected by a strong and substantial casing, preferably of cast-iron, which will withstand falls and blows that would be liable to bend or destroy the ordinary exposed pipes of tin or brass. Moreover', being a self-contained unitary article the parts are not liable to become separated or mislaid or lost, and it may be transferred in its entirety from one barrel or tank to another.

The overflow-tube 57 may be of lead or any other material having' suilicient flexibility to enable it to follow thc curve of the goosenecked column, and the upper end or both ends of the tube may be secured in position by expanding the tube in its seat or in any other well-known way. Instead of the overliow-tube an independent overflow-passage may be cored in the Inetal of the column itself, and in various other ways which will suggest themselves to users and constructors of this class of machinery `the embodiment herein shown may be modified to suit considerations of economy or to suit the conditions of particular cases.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a filling apparatus, the combination of a filling-nozzle, an adjustable bracket, a can-supporting platen mounted upon the bracket for longitudinal movement in a straight line toward and from the nozzle, and a lever pivoted on the bracket for imparting the longitudinal movement of the platen.

2. The combination in a lilling or discharge apparatus provided with a supply-passage, and with an overliow-passage, of a valve-plug mounted for turning movement and forming a discharge-nozzle having discharge and return passages which communicate with the supply-passage and the overliow-passage, respectively, at one position of the valve-plug, and are closed at another position ofthe plug.

3. The combination in a lilling or discharge apparatus, provided with a supply-passage, and an overflow -passage, of a valve-plug mounted for turning movement and having independent passages extending to the discharging portion of the plug, and communieating with the said supply and overflow passages, respectively at one position of the plug and being shut off from said communication at another position of the plug.

4L. The combination in a filling or discharge apparatus, of a supply-passage, a valve-plug mounted for turning movement and having independent passages leading to different points of discharge, the said passages being brought into communication with said supply-passage at different times by the turning movement of the plug.

5. The combination in a lilling or discharge apparatus, of a supply-passage, and an overflow-passage, a valve-plug mounted for turning movement, and provided with independent passages leading to different points of discharge, the said discharge -passages being brought into communication with the said supply-passage at different times by the turning movement of the plug, the plug being also provided with a vent-opening connecting one of said discharge-passages with the overllowpassage when the other discharge-passage is in communication with the supply-passage.

6. lIn a filling apparatus, the combination of a filling-nozzle, a reciprocating platen for raising and lowering a can to and from the nozzle, adapted to collect the drip, and a conductor for receiving the drip from the platen and returning it through the apparatus to the tank or source of supply.

7 In a filling apparatus, the combination of a rigid supporting-column having a supporting-base and a projection for extending into the bung-hole or outlet-aperture of the tank or source of supply, a filling-nozzle, a supplyroov IOS

IIO

passage, and an oVerfiow-passage inelosed in the column and Communicatingbetween the base of the column and the lilling-nozzle.

8. The Combination with lilling apparatus, of a rigid column inelosing a supply-passage, a nozzle connected therewith and a separate overiow-passage inelosed by said column for the return of the liquid from the nozzle.

9. In a lilling apparatus, the Combination ot a rigid Column Containing separate supply and Overllow passages, and a combined valve-plug and iilling-nozzle communicating with and controlling both passages, a platen for supporting the oil-can and for eolleeting the drip, and means for returning the said drip through the column.

lO. The combination with lilling apparatus, of an extensible p ump-barrel and plunger-rod, both provided with screw-threads of the same piteh for simultaneous and equal adjustment.

11. In combination with a [illing apparatus, an extensible pump-barrel connected with the apparatus by means of a threaded extension, and a plunger-rod Connected with the pumpplunger by means of a thread of substantially the same piteh as that of the pump-barrel, whereby the barrel and the plunger may be extended equally and simultaneously.

l2. In combination with a iilling attachment, an extensible pump therefoneomprising a barrel having a threaded extension fitting the apparatus, a plunger provided with an extensionrod fitted thereto with a screw-thread of a pitch substantially equaling that of the barrel extension, with means, as a key, for causing the pump-plunger to turn with the barrel,whereby the plunger may oe extended simultaneously and equally with the barrel as the latter is unserewed from the apparatus.

13. In a iilling apparatus, the Combination ot' a column for supporting a can and eonduetber, 1901.

WILLIAM E. S. STRONG. Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. PECK, FREDERICK E. FULLER. 

